Comedian Kenn Dodd opened the Comedy Carpet, a special artwork right on the seafront in front of Blackpool Tower. Created by artist Gordon Young and the Why Not Associates design team, the Comedy Carpet is a large display celebrating British comedy.
The Blackpool Open Air Baths, also called the Blackpool Lido, opened to the public in 1923. They were built to give people a big, outdoor swimming pool to enjoy, making the most of Blackpool’s fame as a seaside spot. At the time, the baths were one of the largest open-air pools in the UK. They had diving boards, areas for sunbathing, and lots of seats for people to watch. The lido quickly became a popular place for swimming, sunbathing, and family outings. Its size and impressive features made it a well-known part of Blackpool, attracting many visitors every summer. The baths were more than just a place to swim; they were an important part of Blackpool’s social life, hosting events like swimming races, diving shows, and beauty contests.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the UK’s most famous amusement parks, and its history stretches back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was started by William Bean and his partner John Outhwaite in 1896. They bought 30 acres of land, which was then home to a gypsy camp. Bean aimed to create an American-style amusement park for people to enjoy. The park began with just a few basic rides. Over time, it grew a lot, adding more rides and attractions to attract more visitors. During the 1920s and 1930s, the park continued to expand, introducing some iconic… Read more »
The Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team was founded in 2009 by Chairman John Coombes to raise funds for the RAF Memorial at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham St Annes. Back in 1940, the people of Lytham St Annes raised £6,500 to buy a Spitfire Mark Vb W3644, which was sadly shot down in 1942, resulting in the loss of its pilot, Sgt. Alan Lever-Ridings. Now, a full-size replica of W3644 stands proudly at the Spitfire Memorial at Fairhaven Lake (FY8 1BD). The Spitfire Display Team continues to support the Spitfire Visitor Centre at Blackpool Airport through fundraising and is available… Read more »
Since 1996, the World Fireworks Championship in Blackpool has been captivating audiences with its amazing nighttime shows. It’s become a major event in Blackpool and one of the highlights in the UK’s festival scene. Teams from all over the world come to compete, creating impressive fireworks displays set to music. Each show is judged on how spectacular, creative, and precise it is.
The Saddle Inn, one of the oldest pubs in Blackpool, was built in 1776 and was originally owned by a saddler named Richard Hall. It still has that historic charm and is known as the oldest pub in Blackpool that’s been continuously licensed. Despite its small size, it has a lot of character and is well-known in town for its real ales, especially Bass. The pub features a large beer garden, two rooms off the main bar, and serves food from 12pm to 9pm. When the heritage image was taken, Catterall & Swarbrick was the brewery supplying the pub, which… Read more »
Spitfire Island was one of the exciting new features of the Blackpool Illuminations 2023, which started on 1 September and ran every night until 1 January 2024. The installation was the result of a collaboration between the Blackpool Illuminations team and the renowned designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. This year, the focus was on a tribute to the iconic Spitfire aircraft, with three full-scale replica Spitfires taking centre stage in a revamped display at Gynn Roundabout in the northern part of Blackpool. The collaboration also included Airfix, the famous model kit company, who sponsored the feature. It was a landmark moment as… Read more »